Revellers join the Jinbao Street Carnival.

One year after the State Council approved an administrative adjustment of Beijing, the new Dongcheng district is developing into a new, more modern community.

Under the slogan "International Garden City", the district has set the clear goal of becoming a cultural center of Beijing.

At the beginning of 2011, the district government issued a strategic plan (2011-2030) for the development of Dongcheng that emphasizes cultural industries as a new driving force.

The district will also improve its public services, optimize its governance and balance the development of different areas.

Protection and development of cultural heritage is also a great concern to the district government.

The only two World Cultural Heritage sites in the old city - the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven - are in Dongcheng, as are a large number of other historic and cultural sites such as Lama Temple, the Temple of Confucius and the Temple of Earth.

As different aspects of traditional Chinese culture witness a happy convergence in Dongcheng, the district government sponsored the Beijing Wangfujing international brand festival to attract renowned brands in the district.

To meet the strategic goal of establishing a new, modern Dongcheng, last year the district government positioned cultural and creative operations as competitive industries and selected tourism, finance, business services and information service as four pillar industries.

It highlighted traditional Chinese medicine, low-carbon services and sports as three emerging industries.

The strategy has enhanced economic growth. From January to July this year, the district's GDP reached 66.22 billion yuan ($10.4 billion), a year-on-year increase of 8.2 percent.

By dividing the district into 589 management grids, Dongcheng has established a unique model of public service.

Every grid is equipped with community staff to provide residents with more safety. The establishment of " community service within a quarter hour" gives residents access to all basic facilities within 15 minutes. With the establishment of the grid system, residents feel they are more involved in the community.

Improving housing conditions is the greatest concern of the district government.

Since the merger last year, 10 projects to renovate dilapidated homes have been accelerated, while thousands of subsidized houses have been made available to low-income families.

Dongcheng has also made great efforts to promote civil life by hosting a range of activities and integrating its educational and medical care systems to provide a pleasant community for its people.

(China Daily 09/02/2011 page7)